COLORED SHADOWS

I was tasked with studying and recreating the lighting effects in Henri Matisse’s painting, Blue Still Life (1907) using any medium. I explored this project by using colored card stock and colored plastic filters in order to achieve the effect of the colored shadow as it is prevalent in Matisse’s painting. I learned to 3D model and to render at a higher level, as I used the “Sketch” command to recreate all of the forms that I created by hand with paper, plastic filters and scissors.

Rendering of Folded and Painted Card Stock

Rendering of Folded and Painted Card Stock

Modelled in Rhino, rendered in Keyshot

Henri Matisse, Blue Still Life, oil on canvas, 1907.

Henri Matisse, Blue Still Life, oil on canvas, 1907.

Image from artstor.org

Image of Painting with Pink, Blue and White Levels Increased

Image of Painting with Pink, Blue and White Levels Increased

Image of Painting with Channel Mixer Green-Green 200 Level Increased

Image of Painting with Channel Mixer Green-Green 200 Level Increased

Image of Painting with Threshold Level Increased

Image of Painting with Threshold Level Increased

Image of Painting with Posterized Effect

Image of Painting with Posterized Effect

Image of Painting with Predominant Shadow Colors

Image of Painting with Predominant Shadow Colors

Colored Shadow Prototype in Natural Light

Colored Shadow Prototype in Natural Light

Prototype created with card stock and a glossy white plastic Ikea box

Shadows achieved with an LED Pen Light

Shadows achieved with an LED Pen Light

Left image: shadows behind blue card stock; Right image: shadows behind pink card stock

CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Modelled in Rhino, rendered in Keyshot

Exploded Diagram of CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Exploded Diagram of CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Colored Shadow Prototype made of Plastic Filters

Colored Shadow Prototype made of Plastic Filters

Prototype made with frame and colored filters sandwiched in between two sheets of plastic

Resulting Shadow

Resulting Shadow

Produced from shining a UV light through the framed “colored filters collage”

CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Modelled in Rhino; rendered in Keyshot

Exploded Diagram of CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Exploded Diagram of CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Front view

Exploded Diagram of CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Exploded Diagram of CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Perspective view

Colored Shadow Prototype made of White Card stock and Fluorescent Tempera Paint

Colored Shadow Prototype made of White Card stock and Fluorescent Tempera Paint

Process Shot

Aerial view of white card stock “screen” and card stock “projector” painted with fluorescent tempera paints

CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

CAD Model Reproduction of Prototype

Modelled in Rhino, rendered in Keyshot